Resistance-thermometer.



E. F. NORTHRUP, M. E. LEEDS & G. R. GARY.

-B,ESISTANGE THERMOMETER.

APPLIOATIOH FILE]? NOV. 21, 1908.

955 1 9 1 Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

witnesses. T My m o f (1.8 M Mx ZA U N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. nnwINr. Nonrrmnr, MORRIS E. LEEnsnNn cnams n. 'GARY, or rnrnannm nra, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T LEEDS AND Non'rnnUr carer-Any, VA coaPoRArro OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification otIietters Patent. Patented. Apr,

. RESISTANCE-THERMOMETER.

Application filed November 21, 1908. Serial No. 463,811.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWIN F. NORTH RUP, MORRIS E. Lance, and CHARLES R. CARY, citizens of the United. States, .residing in Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Resistance- Thermometers; of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for measuring temperatures by the employment of a resistance conductor or unit, commonly called a resistance bulb, subjected to the temperatureto be measured, vin association with a Wheatstone brid e arrangement, asource of energy, and an e ect-rical 1nd1cat1ngor measuring instrument.

Our invention resldes in an apparatus of the character above described 1n whlch the zero or balancing method is not employed,

- except to the extent hereinafter indicated;

but the temperature is read-by a deflection of the galvanometer or other measuring instrument, the reading on the instrument being directly in temperature units, and the instrument reading, being supplemental to readings, in'temperature units, corresponding with the position of a plug or switch,

- hereinafter referred to, by which an approximate balance only is obtained.

A feature of our invention is the employment, in such apparatus, of a resistance intervenmg-between ad acent bridge arms and tapped at a plurality of points and connected with a plurality of contacts adapted to be engaged by a plug or switch arm, whereby more or less of the intervening resistance isincluded inone'or the other of the'adjacent bridge arms depending on the temperature of the bulb resistance. f I

'Another feature of our invention is the use, in connection with 'such apparatus, of a galvanometer or electrical measuring instn iment reading directly in units of tempera-g v ture, the range of'the measuring instrument.

being small as compared with the total range of'temperatur-e measurable by the appara tus; but the instrument range corresponds with the difierence in the temperatures indicated by neighboring'contacts of the switch associated with the intervening resistance,

- strument.

each switch contact indicating, when the I ,plug or switch arm is in engagement with it, a reading in units of tem erature. The tem-.

perature to be measure is determined by the readin corresponding with'the switch contact whlch is in circuit and the reading of the measuring instrument, the one reading supplementing the other.

- Our.invention resides also in making the taps in the intervening resistance at such points as to compensate'or correct for any variations, from a linear or straight line function, of the relatlon .between resistance movement of the plug or switch arm to difnew. I

'sistance of the bulb resistance) from the ferent contacts communicating with various points on the intervening resistance. The

source of energy em loyed having a sub-' 'stantially constant v0 tage, these changes in resistance would otherwise cause incorrect readings on the measuring instrument.

A feature of our invention resides also in having the indicator of the measuring instrument pointing at mid scale when no current is passing through the measuring in- The result is to halve any error which might result from a change in the voltage of the source of energy, or from any change in the constant of the galvanometer or measuring instrument.

. 'Our invention resides also in the method of temperature measurement and other features h'ereinafter pointed out and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the forms our invention may take, ree'frence is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating-Ia resistance thermometer ofour invention. .Fi 2 is a fragmentary diagramma-tic view illustrating how a -plural1ty of bulb or thermometer resistances may be associated with the same apparatus." Fig. 3 is Q I a representation of an interchangeable bulb resistance.

Referring to Fig. 1, T represents a bulb or thermometer resistance which is of any suitable form, a standard form consisting of a pure nickel or a pure platinum wire wound on a mica frame and contained within a quartz, porcelain, or other suitable tube, carrying terminals, the tube being thrust into the gas, liquid, solid or other material whose temperature is to be measured. From one of the terminals of the resistance T extends a lead or conductor t connected to the point or binding post A. From the other terminal of the resistance T a similar lead or conductor it extends to the point or bind-' ing post B. And from the same terminal of the resistance T extends a lead or conductor 1) connecting to the point or binding post C. These three conductors, 25, a, Q), are preferably formed into a braid 0r twist and extend between the reading or indicating ap paratus and the bulb resistance T, so that all are subjected to like conditions of temperature. The two leads t and u must have the same resistance; that is, they must be of the same length, cross section and material. By this arrangement, any change of temperature of these leads will cause the same variation in resistance in both If and u with a resultant substantially m'l efiect upon the balance or other adjustment of the bridge apparatus, due to the fact that the bridge arm lead or conductor a) is carried to one terminal of the bulb or thermometer resistance T. The leads t and u are in diflerent bridge arms, and, as above stated, since they both change alike in' temperature they change similarly in resistance, and this resistance change has substantially no eflect upon the bridge.

In the same arm of the bridge with the lead u is connected theresistance R between the binding post B and the point or binding post G. The resistance R and the lead to are connected in one arm of the bridge, while the bulb resistance T and the lead 25 are connected in another arm of the bridge. The resistance R is preferably chosen equal -to the resistance of the bulb or thermometer resistance T corresponding with a temper ature which is the mean of the range of the instrument. In the other arms of the bridge are connected the resistances f and 70 with the intervening resistance consisting of the resistance sections 9, h, 2', and y. From suitable points taps or connections are made through the resistances a, b, c, d and e to aplurality of plug or switch contacts, opposed to which is a plug or switch bar P, the plug p being shown, by way of example, as connecting the bar P with the middle plug contact. And connected between the bar P and the binding post 0 are the resistance .9 and tween the two lower bridge arms may be changed; in other words, more orless of the intervening resistance (g+h+i|j) is connected in one or the other of the lower bridge arms.

Representing the resistance from the point G to the point A by Z, and representing the resistance from the point G to the point where the middle plug is connected to the intervening resistance by m, we have, from the ordinary equation of the Wheatstone bridge:

Z R R m T m Z R m (T R) m EL T R And assuming that the mean of the tempera ture range of the instrument is 750 degrees centigrade, and that the resistance of T at that temperature is 29.3 a) (29.3 ohms), and

that the resistance Z is 100 a) (100 ohms), and assuming R equal to T, we find that m:f+g+h: 5010 Since the resistance of the bulb or thermometer T varies with temperature otherwise than in a strictly proportional or linear way, and since the apparatus is to be calibrated to read directly in degrees of temperature, the taps a, b, 0, d and e are taken out at non-uniformly recurring points along the intervening resistance g+h+i+j. In other words, the resistances g, h, 2' and j are not equal to each other, even in case the bulb resistance T varies in resistance strictly proportionally to the temperature. And when the bulb resistance T does not vary in resistance proportionally to the tem erature, these resistances g, h, i and j diiibr from what they would be in the case where the resistance of T varied strictly proportionally with the temperature, by an amount sufii cient to compensate for the nonproportionate change in resistance with respect to temperature in T, wherebythe apparatus operates as if the resistance T did vary strictly proportionally with the temperature. Thus,

assuming t-he values in the example above plug is in any other hole a difierent amount of resistance'is connected in series in said circuit. These resistances are different in value in order that the difi'erence of potential at the terminals of the measuring instrument V shall be the same for equal changes of resistance of the bulb resistance T, provided that the plug 29 be inserted in the hole corresponding with the lowest temperature of the range in which said bulb resistance lies. It is to be understood, however, that the values of the different resistances above given are .by way of example merely and that our invention is not restricted to them or to their proportions. 1

Thus, we provide two compensations. One, by choosing the resistances g, h, i and j of suitable and difl'erent values to fulfil the law of the bridge and to take care of the non-uniform variation of the resistance T in relation to temperatures A second compensation is provided, by changing the resistance in series with the source S for different plug positions, so' that the amount of current passing through the measuring 'instrument V, assuming a constant potential source, will be the same for the same changes in the resistance of T at all positions of the plug p,-'z'. 6., so that irrespective of what the temperature of the bulb T may be, and irrespective of what hole the plug p may occupy, a given change in resistance in the bulb T will cause a given current throughthe instrument V, and therefore a given deflection of that instrument. This second compensation is such that when the plug 3) is inserted in the hole corresponding with the lower limit of the particular range of resistance in which the bulb resistance lies, the current through the measuring instrument will be independent of. that, particular range, and 7 dependent only upon the relative change of resistance of the bulb with respect to the limits of that range.

The mode of using the instrument is as follows: The bulb resistance T is inserted The plug into the medium or material whose tempera ture is to be measured. It then takes the temperature of the surrounding medium and acquires a certain corresponding resistance. 79' is then inserted in such hole that the galvanometer needle indlcates some T1011 marks of the reading between zero and 100, the calibragalvanometer being in degrees. For the position shown in Fig. 1, the plug is inserted at the middle contact and the instrument indicates at 50 degrees.

Butthe needle and scale of the galvanometer V are so disposed that when there is no current through the galvanometer the needle points at mid scale, namely, 50 degrees. The temperature to be measured is then 700, the mark on the contact with which the plug is in engagement, plus the instrument reading which is 50 degrees.

That is to say, the temperature to be de Y termined is 750 degrees. And the range of the instrument of Fig. 1 is from 500 degrees to 1,000 degrees centigrade. By thus having the instrument needle pointat mid scale for zero current through the instru-' ment, the error which is due to a change in potential of the source S, or a change in the constant of the galvanometer V, is halved. And the readings upon the plug contacts, from 500 to 900, as here'shown, are, in fact, low by 50 degrees. This will appear from --the fact that with the plug in the position shown, a bridge balance exists, since the needle of the instrument points at mid scale,

meaning that there is no current passing through the galvanometer, and the tempera ture to be measured is, in fact, 750 degrees. That is to say, with an instrument pointing I at mid scale for no currentthrough the instrument, the plug contacts are marked 50 degrees lower than the real temperature which would cause a balance at such plug positions. Assuming the plug p to be in engagement with the contact marked 600, and the needle of the instrument pointing at 75 on its scale, the temperature would be 600+7 5:67 5 degrees. And if the plug is in the same position and the instrument needle points at 10 upon its scale the temperature is 600+10=610 degrees.

The range of the measuring instrument or galvanometer V is equal to the difierence between the readings uponv neighborin plug contacts. The plug p is inserted by t e operator in the hole opposite that contact which affords the nearest to a true balance, and the remainder of the total reading is determined by the instrument V. And for each plug position there is a possibility of a balance of the bridge, because for each plug position the instrument needle may point at 50 or mid scale, which means that no current is passing through the instrument and that the bridge is balanced. But the method herein pursued is not the commonly known zero or balancing method where the bridge is always balanced before the temperature isread. In our apparatus the bridge maybe in balance, as. above stated, but the method pursuedis to only approximately balance the bridge and then add the reading of the. plug contact with the instrument reading. Or we may say that the bulk of the temperature interval measured is read from the stationary contacts, the small outstanding remainder being given by the position of a deflecting indicator. The instrument V in nearly every case, except where there is a balance for .each plug position, indicates that current-is cated at a distance from each other and 20 from the bridge instrument. A switch is provided for bringing any one of the bulb resistances into communication with the instrument. The bindin posts A and B and C, in Fig. 2, correspon with the same binding posts of Fig. 1, a conductor 2: extending from binding post 0 to corresponding ter-- minals of each of the bulb resistances.

These bulb resistances are interchangeable, asthey must be if the same bridge instrument is to be used to determine tempera"- tures. That is,fthey have the same total resistance, with their res ective leads 1?, 10 etc.,- and have. the same aw of variation of resistance with temperature variation. The

terminals of the bulb resistance T connect with the contacts 1- and 2; the terminals of the resistance T with the contacts 3 and 4:;

and the terminals of the resistance T with the contacts Sand 6. The binding posts A and B are connected respectively with the contact strips or bars 7 and 8. A. switch 9, whose contacts lOand 11 are insulated from each other and are adapted'to engage the bars 8 and 7, respectively, and engage the various contacts, brings the different bulb resistances into communication with the binding posts A and .B. The mode of reading or determining the temperature is that explained in connection with Fig. 1.

As before stated, interchangeable bulb resistances must be adjusted to exact equality both with respect to resistance and temperature coeflicient. To secure equality in temperature coefficient a certain resistance of manganin, having practically zero temperature coeilicient, may be connected in series or in shunt with those bulb resistances whosetemperature coeflicient is too high. Thus, in Fig. 3 the bulb resistance T is shown as made up of two serially connected conductors '0 and 1', the former of pure platinum, pure nickel, or other suitable material, and r of manganin, or other materlal hav-' ing a less temperature coefilcient than 0, the

two conductors, or wires being secured to each other preferably by hard. silver solder for low temperatures, or by welding for high temperatures.

For the sake of clearness the conductor extending across the bridge and including the source of energy S is termed a conjugate conductor; so also is the conductor extending from A to G including the instrument V a conjugate conductor.

. What we claim is:

1. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and its galvanometer associated with said bridge, said galvanometer calibrated in temperature units, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, a resistance intervening between adjacent bridge arms, and switch contacts connected to points of said intervening resistance for including more or less of said intervening resistance in one or the other of said adjacent bridge arms for approximately balancing the bridge, said contacts giving readings in temperature units,

and said galvanometer givin readings supplemental to the contact rea ings.

2. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and its galvanometer associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance included in an arm ofsaid bridge, a switch having a plurality of contacts, and

. taps from adjacent bridge arm resistances to said contacts, the resistances between taps being of such magnitude as to compensate for the non-uniform change' in bulb resistance with relation to the temperature to which it is subjected.

3. In temperature measuring apparatus,

the combination with a Wheatstonebridge and its source of current and its galvanometer associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, a switch in. a conjugate conductor comprising a plurality of contacts, adjacent bridge arm resistances, and taps therefrom to said contacts, theresistances between taps being of'such magnitude as to compensate for the non-uniform change in bulb resistance with relation to the temperature to whichit is subjected.

4. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and its galvanometer associated'with said bridge, said galvanometer calibrated in temperature units, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, and a switch having a plurality of contacts connected to the resistance in adjacent bridge. arms for changin the amount of resistance in adjacent ridge arms, each switch contact giving a reading in temperature units, sald galvanometer 'vin mid scale reading when said bridge- 1s ba anced, and said galvanometer giving readings supplemental to .said switch contact readings.

5. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring in- I measuring instrument giving a reading supplemental tothe switch contact reading.

6. In temperature 'measuring apparatus, the-combination with a WVheatstone bridge and its source of, current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge,.of

a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, a switch having a plurality of con-- tacts connected to adjacent bridge arm: reslstances, and a resistance brought into a conjugate conductor by each switch. contact.

7. In temperature measuring apparatus,

the combination witlra WVheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance inclined in an arm of said bridge, and a switch in a conjugate conductor having a plurality of contacts for securing an. approximate balance -=of the bridge, and a resistance brought into series with said conjugate conductor by each switch contact. l

8. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, a switch having a plurality of con tacts, anda plurality of connections from.

points in adjacent bridgegarm resistances to said contacts, said connectlons Including dlfierent resistances.

9. In temperature measuring apparatus, the comblnation with a Wheatstone bridgeand its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, a switch having a plurality of contacts, and a plurality of connectlons from points in adjacent bridge arm resistances to said contacts, said connections having dif ferent resistances for rendering the current through said instrument dependent only upon the change in bulb resistance, and the magnitude of the bridge arm resistances between said connections being such as to compensate for the non-uniform change in bulb resistance with relation to the temperature which includes said bulb resistance, and a switch having a plurality of contacts for controlling the amount of said resistance in adjacent bridge arms, whereby the bridge may be approximately balanced, each switchcontact giving a reading, and said measuring instrument giving a reading supplemental to the switch contact reading.

11. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge,

of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, resistance in adjacent bridge arms external to the bridge arm which includes said bulb resistance, and a switch having a plurality of contacts controlling said resistance in adjacent bridge arms, whereby said bridge may be approximately balanced, each switch contact glving a reading, and the range of said measuring instrument being equal to the difl'erence in readings of neighboring switch contacts.

12. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge and pointing to mid scale when nocurrent flows through said instrument, of a bulb reslstance included in an arm of said bridge, and a switch having' a plurality of contacts for.

securing an approximate balance of the 7 bridge, ea'ch switch contact giving a reading, said measuring instrument giving a reading supplemental to each switch contact reading, and the range of said measurlng instrument" being equal tothe difierence in readings of neighboring switch contacts.

13. In temperature. measuring apparatus, thecombinatio'n with a Wheatstone bridgeand its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge and v reading .in units of temperature and point ing to mid 'scale .when no current flows through sai'dinstrument, of a bulbresistance includedin an arm of said bridge, and "a switch having a plurality' of contacts for securing an approximate balance of the-.125,

bridge, each switch contact giving areadin-g, the range ofsaidImeasuringinstrument being equal to the difl'erence inr'eadingsof neighboring switch contacts,

14. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge and calibrated in units of temperature and pointing to mid scale when no current'fiows through said instrument, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, and a switch having a plurality of contacts for securing an approximate balance of the bridge, each switch contact giving a read ing, said measuring instrument giving a reading supplemental to the switch contact reading, and each switch contact reading being lower than the true temperature, when the bridge is balanced by that contact, by an amount equal to the mid scale reading of said measuring instrument.

15. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a IVheatstone bridge and its source of current and its galvanometer associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, means for approximating or attaining a balance of the bridge, and a resistance in a conjugate conductor of said bridge for maintaining the current through said galvanometer the same for the same change in bulb resistance.

16. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a \Vheatstone bridge and its source of current and its galvanometer associated with said bridge, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, means for approximating or attaining a balance of the bridge, a resistance external to the bridge arms, and means for bringing into circuit said resistance for rendering the diflerence of potential at the galvanometer terminals dependent only upon the change in bulb resistance.

17. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a I/Vheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge and having a substantially uniform scale, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, and a switch in a conjugate con ductor for changing the amount of resist ance in neighboring bridge arms, said resistances in neighboring bridge arms being of a magnitude for securing approximate balance of the bridge and for compensating for the non-uniform change in bulb resistance with relation tothe temperature to which it is subjected.

18. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a WVheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge and having a substantially uniform scale and pointing to mid scale reading when said bridge is balanced, of a bulb resistance included in an arm of said bridge, means associated with said bridge for compensating for the non-uniform change in bulb resistance with relation to the temperature to which it is subjected, and means for rendering the current through said measuring instrument dependent only upon the change in bulb resistance.

19. In temperature measuring apparatus, the combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and a measuring instrument associated with said bridge, of a bulb resist-ance included in an arm of said bridge, and means for approximately balancing the bridge to give a temperature indication, said measuring instrument giving a reading supplemental to said indication and pointing to mid scale when no current flows through said instrument, the indication given by said balancing means being low by an amount equal to the mid scale reading of said measuring instrument.

20. The combination with a VVheatstone bridge and its source of current and galvanometer in conjugate conductors of said bridge, of a plurality of resistances tapped into neighboring bridge arm resistances, and a switch for bringing said resistances into circuit in a conjugate conductor.

21. The combination with a WVheatstone bridge and its source of current and galvanometer in conjugate conductors of said bridge, of a plurality of resistances tapped into neighboring bridge arm resistances at different points, and a switch for bringing said resistances into circuit in series with a conjugate conductor.

22. The combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of current and galvanometer in conjugate conductors of said bridge, of a plurality of resistances of difierent magnitudes tapped into adjacent bridge arm resistances at different points, the bridge arm resistances between taps being of different magnitudes, and a switch for bringing said dilferent resistances into circuit in series with a conjugate conductor.

23. The combination with a VVheatstone bridge and its source of energy and a measuring instrument in conjugate conductors of said bridge, of a variable resistance in a bridge arm, and means for causing the current through said measuring instrument to depend only upon the resistance change of said variable resistance without regard to its absolute resistance, said means comprisin a plurality of resistances tapped in at di erent points in adjacent bridge arm resistances, and a switch for bringing said resistances into circuit in a conjugate conductor.

2a. The combination with a Wheatstone bridge and its source of energy and a measuring instrument in conjugate conductors of said bridge, of a variable resistance in a bridge arm, and means for causing the current through said measuring instrument to depend only upon the resistance change of said variable resistance without regard to its absolute resistance, said means comprising a plurality of resistances of different magnitudes tapped in at different points in adjacent bridge arm resistances, the bridge arm resistances between taps being of different magnitudes, and a switch for bringing said different resistances into (il'CHlt in series with a conjugate conductor.

25. In n'leasuring apparatus. the. combination with a plurality of circuit branches, at a galvanometer and a source of current associated with said circuit branches, vanoineter being calibrated in definite units and giving mid scale indication when there is an electrical balance, a resistance in a cir cuit branch changing with the quantity whose magnitudes are to be measured, a switch comprising a plurality of contacts, a plurality of resistances controlled by said switch, each switch contact giving a reading,

said galvanometer giving a reading supplereading, and belng lower apparatus by mental to the switch contact each switch contact reading than the reading given by the said galan amount equal to the mid scale reading of said galvanometer.-

26. In measuring apparatus, the combination with a plurality of circuit branches, of a galvanometer and a source of current associated with said circuit branches, said galvanometer being calibrated in definite units and giving mid scale indication when there is an electrical balance, a resistance in a circuit branch changing with the quantity whose magnitudes are to be measured, a switch comprising aplurality of contacts, and a plurality of resistances in one of said circuit branches controlled by said switch, each switch contact giving a reading, and said galvanometer readings being supplemental to the switch contact readings.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses this 19th day of November, 1908.

EDWIN F. NORTHRUP. MORRIS E. LEEDS. CHARLES R. CARY.

Witnesses:

HENRY S. PRICKETT, G120. S. GANDY. 

